Thursday, April 5, 2018

So Obsessed... (22)



I can't believe it's been a whole year since I've shared some obsessions!!!  I need to get my crap together!

When I like something, I usually obsess over it-- so here are my current obsessions:



Ipsy


I signed up for Ipsy last spring, and I have zero regrets.  For $10 a month, I get a cute bag and 5 beauty products-- and free shipping!!

The way it works is, you fill out a form which includes your skin tone/eye color/skin type, what kind of beauty products you like, and what colors/scents you prefer.  Personally, I don't like trying perfume, so I didn't check the perfume box on the questionnaire.  I have received exactly 1 perfume in 11 months (and actually I really really like it).  Sometimes I do end up getting a lot of the same stuff in there (different brands of the same product), but luckily it's always stuff I use a lot of.  For example, they send me a lot of black eyeliner, but also I wear a lot of black eye-liner and like trying out new brands.  Same with mascara.  The brands are pretty good too-- it's not Elf or cheapo stuff, I've gotten Kat von D, Smashbox, Tarte, It Cosmetics, Urban Decay, First Aid Beauty, etc.

What I love about it is that I've been able to try so many products without wasting tons of money.  Some of the things in the bag have been full size, which I was pleasantly surprised with.  I honestly can only think of 2 things this entire year that I really didn't care for (one was sparkly green eye-shadow and the other was a face wash that made my skin feel dry).  The rest of it has all turned into stuff I use regularly or enjoyed trying.

Anyway, if I've convinced you to try it, here's my code so I'll get credit for your sign-up.


TV Shows


I haven't been watching a ton of TV lately.  The blog tour co. has been taking a toll on my binge-watching time!!  I did recently start to watch Everything Sucks! and I'm OBSESSED!!!!  

I mean, duh.  It's 90's, and high school, and endearing as hell characters.  I love it so much that I made a list of all the epic 90's things that show up in the episodes (i.e. ZIMA, caboodles, Surge, Tamagotchi).  I wholeheartedly recommend everyone to watch this show!! PLEASE, we need another season!!

Other shows I've watched this year:
  • The End of the F***ing World
    • This show was SO dark and I kind of loved that?
  • Slasher
    • Cheesy horror-vibes.  Dean McDermott soured me a little on this (plus the bad acting), but I need cheesy horror every now and again.
  • Mindhunter
    • Slow start, but this series got GOING.  Bonus: it was filmed in Pittsburgh, so there were LOTS of familiar sights!
  • Big Little Lies
    • I binged this series on HBO and then immediately read the book.  You can see my thoughts here.
  • True Detective
    • I only watched the first season.  It was interesting in a messed-up kind of way.
  • The Keepers
    • WOW!!!  I really dislike Baltimore corruption after watching this.  I thought I was getting a typical murder mystery and what I got was one of the most shocking, infuriating, disgusting crimes I've ever heard of.
  • Riverdale
    • HOOKED!!!  Jughead forever.
  • Stranger Things season 2
    • Obviously, this was a big YES from me.  I loved the build-up towards the ending and the demi-dogs.  I was mildly worried that my dog's head was going to open up for a good week after I was done with the show.  AND I also loved the Pittsburgh scene in the very beginning (because that was obviously filmed in downtown Pittsburgh).

Also-- has anyone heard that they're making a Hulu series called Crash & Burn??? It's one of my all-time favorite books, and if this is true I'm PUMPED!!!

Back 2 Bookstagram


I recently got back into Bookstagramming.  It wasn't something I consciously stepped away from, but when there are 999 things that I have to do to keep up with blogging (writing posts, promoting posts, visiting blogs, being "active") and on top of it I feel like I need to take a creative picture every day-- I get burned out.  I credit all of you who can seamlessly do it all, but I cannot.

Anway, I knew I wanted to get back into it because I love pictures and I love using the visual to promote books-- also, it's makes making blog graphics a lot easier because: READY MADE PICTURES TO USE.  So, I ordered THIS on a recommendation from Rebecca, and I LOVE it.  Already my pics are less shadowy and that was always the one thing I wanted to change.  I have a fancy camera, but I don't use it for bookstagram-- I use my phone and the Instagram app to edit because if I have to do more than that, I'll go to the bad place (I'm one of those perfectionist people who will fall down a rabbit hole if I let myself).  But the tent-thingy makes my life easier with the lighting aspect.

Hopefully, I will stick with it more or less.  I'm never going to be one of those people who posts every single day, I'm just not-- and that is okay.

Spring Clothes



  • When I was making my annual Spring Break, Books, and Clothes post, I started getting REALLY itchy for Spring to be here already.  In order to get beyond yet another bout of snow, I'm picking out Spring-ish clothes to get my mind off of it.
  • I love floral anything, and I will always have need for more plaid & velvet dresses.










Spring/Summer Tours Books


  • There are so many books coming out this Spring/Summer that I'm really excited about-- and some of those books are going to be blog touring with us!!  Here's a sneak peek of a few:




If you're interested in any of these (or YA books in general), come sign up to be a tour host for us!






Now, Let's Talk!!!  Do you have any monthly subscriptions?  What TV shows are you watching?  Have you started Everything Sucks! yet?  What Spring/Summer books are you most anticipating?


23 comments:

  1. Floral print is my go-to alllll the time. I can't get enough of it. I also got a velvet dress recently and it reminds me of being a 90s kid! haha so glad they're back.

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    1. I was velvet obsessed in the 90's, so I definitely gotta get me a velvet dress now!!

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  2. Oh, I really want to watch Everything Sucks! - I love all things 90's. I also really want to check out The End of the F***ing World. I watched the first two episodes of Santa Clarita Diet Season 2, so I need to continue with that - love that show. I also watched Mindhunter. It does start a bit slow, but it's so good!!

    -Lauren
    www.shootingstarsmag.net

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    1. Santa Clarita Diet is a show I gotta be in the mood for (or more specifically, during a time period when I'm not eating, which is almost never). I liked the first season, but it was gross as hell.

      You have to watch EVERYTHING SUCKS! You will love it!!!

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  3. Oooh Everything Sucks! sounds right up my alley! I hadn't heard of that show before! And omg! I didn't know Riley Sager was coming out with another book. So excited! My mom is reading Final Girls now!

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    1. WHAT!?!?! Yes, please watch!! It's so good. And OMG I just found out about the Riley Sager book when I was starting to plan the tour!! I'm so excited about that book!

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  4. Totally need to check out Everything Sucks! Don't know how I missed that. I give so much credit to those who take real Bookstagram pics and use props and tools. I have no patience for that!! Yes to floral!!

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    1. Bookstagram is a total time suck. I give credit to all the people who set up endless "scenes" in one day and take pics for the whole week. After I do one set up, I'm burnt out for at least 24 hours.

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  5. Too bad Ipsy only operates in the US. It's nice you can try new beauty products each month for a reasonable price.

    Ronnie @ Paradise Found

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    1. Awww, I didn't know that!!! That stinks!! It's such a cost effective way to try things. Maybe it'll come out your way soon!

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  6. I've been trying Ipsy but I haven't had much luck with it. I feel like I always get super weird brands that I never signed up for or have heard of. I might go back to Birchbox eventually.

    I've been meaning to try to get back into Riverdale, because I started it last year and really liked it, but somehow stopped halfway through an episode? Jughead is the best though <3

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    1. I am waiting until season 2 is over in order to binge the whole thing. So, so far I only have season 1 done.

      Bummer about Ipsy. I really like it & they have been giving me better brands than I was expecting!

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  7. That pretty lacy, embroidered top is so cute! Love how "delicate" it looks. :)

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    1. I love shirts like that!! It's almost old-fashioned looking but also modern??? Anyway, I buy a lot of them!!

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  8. Also Obsessed with Everything Sucks. It was SO great. I also love Riverdale. I am trying some new stuff and will do a "what I'm watching" post soon. I love to talk about TV!
    Jen Ryland Reviews

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    1. I love your What I'm Watching posts!!! I always get bingable ideas!!

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  9. I actually just tried my first Walmart Beauty Box for $5 and I enjoyed it. I have been really debating about Ipsy, as I have seen a lot of happy people that susbcribe. ANd my first subscription box (which I haven't received yet) is The Nerdy Post-which I am looking forward to. And these boxes can be sooo addicting!! I like the looks of some of your books you will be touring fohttps://justmeandmyblogreviews.blogspot.com/2018/04/the-friday-56-5050-post.htmlr this summer, they look good!!

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    1. I didn't know Walmart had a beauty box!! Will have to look into it!!

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  10. After BEA last year, when I was really excited about bookstagramming, I wanted to buy one of those cube things. Since I was asked to contribute to WLABB and then it turned into really only me, I couldn't do it all. Seriously, when do you sleep! Your pictures are awesome by the way.

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    1. I was wondering if other people blogged with you because I only ever see your posts!! It's so hard to do all the things!! When I first started blogging I didn't even have a Twitter-- I just wrote posts, hit publish, the end. Now it's feels like I'm supposed to promote myself of 999 different mediums and keep up with SO many other bookish things. It became so much harder than just typing out posts about books!!

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  11. I am obsessed with Ipsy too! And book subscription boxes. Im currently subbed to LitjoyCrate and Shelf Love Crate. Some months of Ipsy I like more than others, but overall it is so worth the value!

    Im considering subscribing to two more boxes. I porbably will at some point in the year. One is BoxyCharm- its $21/month with free shipping. Its 4-6 full size beauty products! And the other is FabFitFun $39.99/quarterly with a coupon code. Its lifestyle and beauty and the boxes alway shave a value of like $250 or up! Can you tell I love subscription boxes?

    I have also been obsessed with YouTube lately. Makeup Gurus, lifestyle and booktubers. :)

    Great post Michelle!

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    1. I'm definitely up for more monthly boxes!! The book ones I'm always weary of because they're mostly all fantasy in nature, and I don't really read that stuff. Also, they tend to feature a lot of the SAME fantasy books, so it looks like it could get stale. FabFitFun looks amazing!! I mean, jewelry and socks and makeup and blankets?? I'll definitely have to think about that one! I use Youtube mostly for make-up and hair tutorials too!!

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  12. $10 a month sounds like a great deal for makeup and beauty products! And your bookstagram pics look beautiful! I haven't watched any of those shows you mentioned, but I am currently making my way through Peaky Blinders :-)

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